There’s no wonder the Cotswolds is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). With its picturesque honeyed stone villages and rolling countryside it’s quintessentially English. Stretching across five counties it’s the largest AONB in the country. With fabulous produce and exquisite architecture, there are plenty of reasons to visit the Cotswolds.
It’s well connected
Home to the Prince of Wales’s Highgrove Estate, the Cotswolds have impeccable royal connections. It has literary connections, too – if you loved Laurie Lee’s Cider with Rosie then you’ll love visiting his birthplace in Stroud and the locations of his classic book.
It has fabulous produce
From the Gloucester Old Spot pig to single and double Gloucester cheese and asparagus from the Vale of Evesham with its protected status, the Cotswolds has plenty to tempt any food lover. And eating out has never been better thanks to the Gastropub revolution with some of the country’s most talented chefs creating astonishing regional cuisine with produce from the area.
And brilliant pubs and inns
The Cotswolds is an area known for its hostelries, from real ale pubs to authentic cider houses dating back as far as the 17th century. You’ll find venerable watering holes throughout the handsome villages of the region like Bourton-on-Water, Chedworth, and Burford – all worth a visit for their picture-perfect aesthetic and gorgeous golden stone. A Cheltenham B&B like https://www.cheltenhamlawn.co.uk/ is the ideal jumping off point for an exploration of this beautiful region.
There are gorgeous gardens
Keen horticulturalists won’t want to miss the memorable gardens at Hidcote with their rare trees and lush herbaceous borders. The Batsford Arboretum and Kiftsgate Court Gardens are also well worth a visit – who knows you might even see some of the areas famous residents including Kates Winslet and Moss, Damien Hirst and Alex James.
The outdoor life is exceptional
From hiking to biking, the Cotswolds is exceptional outdoors country. There are plenty of trails – the mile between Upper and Lower Slaughter is a lovely stroll while the path along the River Eye takes in an old mill turned tea shop. Lovers of mountain biking will gravitate towards the 417 project with its 100 acres of runs and trails and the country’s first drag lift. There are also plenty of gentle trails for those who fancy an easy spin in the beautiful Cotswolds!